Trading Your Rights for Love

Dear parents of Student Ministries,

   This year is flying by. I can’t believe March is almost done. Summer Camp is just around the corner, June 5-7 at Emmanuel Pines in Prescott. More information and registration will be sent out in the near future.

This week, we continued in Jesus’ Sermon on the Mount to Matthew 5:38-42:

Retaliating and thinking of ourselves first is so natural to all of fallen humanity. Jesus calls his people to turn away from personal vengeance and self-seeking. He gives us practical examples of what it looks like to love others as ourselves,  responding even to insults and demands with grace, humility, and generosity. This is impossible without the gospel, without the Holy Spirit. As we do this, we imitate God’s character, trust His justice, extend His grace, and demonstrate our saving faith in the gospel.

The audio and video of the lesson are available on the website along with a transcript. You can download the discussion guide as well to spend some time with your students, helping to reinforce and apply what they have learned.

This Sunday, we will have another lesson on the topic of giving up your demands for justice to be imitators of God. Then, the following Sunday (April 6th), the entire church—including Student Ministries and adults—will have a fellowship night. We will not have evening service or Student Ministries that week. More details will follow. But we will be together as usual this Sunday. I’m looking forward to it!

Thank you for this privilege. It is no small thing to be entrusted with all these souls. I love bringing God’s Word to them and working alongside these amazing servants to support your efforts in evangelizing and discipling your students.

Your servant for His glory,
-Jacob Hantla